The trial against Isle of Wight councillor Daryll Pitcher, who is accused of rape, gets underway at the Isle of Wight Crown Court this morning (Monday).
It was back in June last year that Councillor Pitcher first appeared in court charged with 2 counts of rape of a female under 16 and 1 of indecent assault on a girl under 14.
The alleged offences are said to date back to a 3-year period between 1989 and 1992 when 46-year-old Pitcher was a child himself.
Pitcher, of Norman Way in Wootton, denies the accusations.
The former UKIP councillor currently represents the electoral ward of Wootton Bridge under the political banner of the Vectis Party – of which he is the leader. Cllr Pitcher has represented Wootton since May 2021 following a previous term between 2013 and 2017. He serves on the Parish Council. He is also the chair of the Isle of Wight Council’s licensing committee and is an active member of the Royal British Legion.
The trial is expected to last 5 days.
